Fort St Elmo

Fort St Elmo stands on the point where the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett meet, and it was the position that took the weight of the Ottoman assault in 1565: it held for a month before falling, and the delay is generally credited with saving the rest of the island. It was rebuilt afterwards and repeatedly enlarged. The National War Museum inside covers Maltese military history from the Bronze Age to the Second World War, including the George Cross awarded to the island in 1942.

What you actually see

• The star fort - the rebuilt fortification on the point between the two harbours.
• The National War Museum - military history from prehistory to the twentieth century.
• The George Cross - the award made to Malta in 1942, displayed in the museum.
• The 1565 story - the position whose month-long defence shaped the Great Siege.

When to go

Year round; the museum is indoors but the fort itself is exposed. Mornings are coolest for the outdoor sections. It closes on some public holidays.

Honest expectations

Parts of the fort remain closed and under restoration. The outdoor sections are hot and exposed in summer. The museum is large and takes longer than most visitors allow.

Nearby

Valletta is behind it, and the Upper Barrakka is southwest.